All Blog Posts Tagged 'virus' - Atheist Nexus2015-03-03T22:43:31Zhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profiles/blog/feed?tag=virus&xn_auth=noReligion as a Virus and Epicurus’ Remediestag:www.atheistnexus.org,2013-07-03:2182797:BlogPost:22638462013-07-03T13:30:00.000ZHiramhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Hiram
<p><em>Mirroring a recent <a href="http://theautarkist.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/religion-as-a-virus-and-epicurus-remedies/" target="_blank">blog post</a>.</em></p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Those of us that grew up under the ideological yolk of the God of the Bible had to contend with a Janus that was said to be both a loving Heavenly Father whom Jesus imagined feeding the birds daily … and a wrathful, jealous, mad sociopath who ordered the Jews to commit genocide in order to occupy other peoples’ lands and…</p>
<p><em>Mirroring a recent <a href="http://theautarkist.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/religion-as-a-virus-and-epicurus-remedies/" target="_blank">blog post</a>.</em></p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Those of us that grew up under the ideological yolk of the God of the Bible had to contend with a Janus that was said to be both a loving Heavenly Father whom Jesus imagined feeding the birds daily … and a wrathful, jealous, mad sociopath who ordered the Jews to commit genocide in order to occupy other peoples’ lands and carried out an extermination plan that lasted centuries in Canaan. They could not possibly be one and the same person, but then again, there is no agent, no person, other than the human agents who had the political and military agendas in the Old Testament, and the agenda to try to fix the shameful ancestral crimes of religion in the new one.</p>
<p>I was initially amused when I first read Richard Dawkins’ reference to religion as a virus. I believe it was in his <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-God-Delusion-Richard-Dawkins/dp/0618918248">The God Delusion</a> that I first found the idea, but then found out that Craig A. James had fully fleshed out the notion in his <a href="http://www.thereligionvirus.com/">The Religion Virus</a>.</p>
<p>The example that Dawkins sets uses parasites who enter the body of innocent animals and make animals (in his case, frogs) deformed and particularly vulnerable to predators. Once eaten, the seed of these parasites lies dormant in the dung of the birds who usually feed on these frogs, and then the life cycle of the parasite can begin again.</p>
<p>Another example he uses is the ant who is overtaken by a parasite that grows on its head. Other ants quarantine the member of the species and mark the territory around it with chemicals to warn each other. These super-intelligent insects apparently know the parasite is contagious. The growth of the parasite is such that the ant is entirely deformed. It attracts birds who also eat the ant and perpetuate the seed of the parasite.</p>
<p>The argument seems to be that only something that functions as a psychological parasite can make a man blow himself up for a higher good. Only a man possessed by a foreign biological agent would act as a suicide bomber or pilot, or murder his own children as a sacrifice to his God, or make a person engage in celibacy. These are behaviors that obviously have no connection with biological imperatives to survive and to pass on the genes and are, therefore, anti-life.</p>
<p>These memes hijack instincts and emotional responses inherent to people (our connection to father, to mother, an infantile urge to surrender, our fear of death, etc.) and use them for self perpetuation. Just as many viruses are intelligent and use the behavior of other species to their advantage, these memes cleverly implant impressions in the soul through devotion, ritual, initiation, passionate speech; they create fond memories just as familial relations do. And just as with bacteria, some are harmful, while others are relatively innocent.</p>
<p>It may be more accurate to say that these cultural memes are not agents themselves but are cleverly utilized by agents: parents wanting to protect their children teach them certain beliefs, pastors wanting to control people implant beliefs based on guilt or fear, and some people seek to console themselves in times of difficulties and also construct belief systems that provide comfort. All these agents have their own agendas and, ultimately, it is these agents who (consciously or not) create and perpetuate these memes.</p>
<p>Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist. In the worldview of an evolutionary biologist, living entities’ genes adapt constantly to their environment by the process of natural selection, perpetually increasing their chances of survival and honing the survival strategies of the species. It is therefore understandable that, to Dawkins, only a parasite would lead a living entity to behave in a manner which is counterintuitive for its survival.</p>
<p>Lucretius, in Chapter IV of his poem <i>De Rerum Natura</i> (On the Nature of Things) describes an early theory of natural selection which existed among ancient Epicureans 23 centuries ago. This theory was part of the first and most cogent ethics based on biology, science and the study of nature that any philosophy has proposed. Because Epicureanism is a naturalist philosophy, it frequently draws metaphors from nature and there is ongoing discourse where philosophy is compared to medicine. Applied Epicurean philosophy gives us a compassionate process of therapy by which the diseases of the soul can be treated.</p>
<div style="text-align: right;"><blockquote><div><i>Philosophy that does not heal the soul is no better than medicine that cannot cure the body </i>- Epicurus</div>
</blockquote>
<p style="text-align: left;">We therefore take very seriously Dawkins’ assertion that supernatural beliefs are parasitical, viruses of the mind and that religion can behave like an epidemic. We should carefully consider the repercussions of this and not ignore the many and complex religious worldviews and paradigms, not all of which are equal. It would be unfair to treat all religion as (equally) evil or harmful.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The main danger coming from religion has to do with fear-based beliefs, as I see it. This is indicated by the first two of the Four Remedies: <i>do not fear the Gods</i> and<i> do not fear death</i>. These are among the very few ‘thou shalt nots’ of Epicureanism and their primacy indicates how important they are.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It’s fear of God(s), and the implied notion that it is wholesome to be scared of a God, that produces many of the more primitive and superstitious, less desirable expressions of religious fervor, from the episodes of genocide in the Old Testament, to the inquisition, to the glorification of violence as jihad or of martyrdom in Catholicism. In all these cases we create misery on Earth, all for the sake of a feared divinity.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It is here that the ancient imagery of an angry tribal warrior God sending plagues to his tribe’s enemies becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy in our process of co-creating our otherwise beautiful world. It is here that the AIDS plague becomes an occassion of thanks-giving to pious Christian fundamentalists and 9-11 an occassion of festivity for pious Muslim fanatics.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Why else would a God have to be feared? People only fear if they are threatened, if they feel like there is a reasonable danger approaching. If you believe that you worship an agent capable of heinous acts of bioterrorism or mass murder, even if at times you wish he would act against your perceived enemies, you WILL fear your God and think of fear of your God as a necessary part of your piety. But a closer and honest talk with the mirror will reveal that a part of your soul ressembles him. Joseph Campbell said that your God is your limit. He can also be your disease of the soul.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Each one of our unanalysed fears is seen as a <i>disease of the soul</i>, defined by us as diathesis (dispositions, or underlying beliefs) founded on false belief which generate unnecessary suffering. The plague-sending God becomes very real to the people who suffer from this insidious type of spiritual disease. They live in fear and they spread it against their will. Like Dawkins’ narrative of parasites in nature, these diseases perpetuate themselves through their agents, the false preachers, even when they seem to provide no apparent survival value. They do not serve life: they hinder it. They do not add pleasure: they remove it, and replace it with ignoble values and experiences.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Epicurean therapy requires that we replace false dispositions with true beliefs and wrong views with right views. Science had advanced tremendously and provides great assistance, as it is through the study of nature that people can acquire a proper naturalist understanding of reality and protect the mind from supernatural (and, therefore, UNnatural) views. There is now a science of dying, and also a science of happiness, both of which add to the conviction needed to succeed as an Epicurean and slay the monsters of the soul.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Applied philosophy heals the soul with its wholesome arguments, which argue against the false beliefs and make it easier for us to abandon the empty or vain desires, fears and habits that emerge from them. Epicurus calls us to carry out nothing less than an inner revolution through which we regain our spiritual health.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">We treat false beliefs, mainly, via <a href="http://elementalepicureanism.com/">thorough study</a>, repetition and memorization of Epicurus’ teachings, which are rendered in the form of short adages for easy memorization and compiled in epitomes like the <a href="http://www.monadnock.net/epicurus/principal-doctrines.html">40 Principal Doctrines</a>. Having wholesome friends is the most important ingredient in happiness. Also important is associating with people of like mind. But without this introspective process, it is impossible to gain the insight and freedom by which philosophy redeems the soul.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Dawkins was recently seen sporting a shirt with the message: “Religion: Together we can find a cure!”. I wish I could meet Professor Dawkins in person and tell him: “Dear Friend, have you heard of Epicurus? We at the Society of Epicurus are here for that very purpose!”</p>
</div>People.....You Are Killing Your Childrentag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-06-28:2182797:BlogPost:19924562012-06-28T15:17:57.000ZLarry Smithhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/LarrySmith501
<p>I have heard it said that the Human Race is living at the bottom of an ocean of germs,<br></br>bacteria and virus's. The only thing that has allowed us to survive to today is because <br></br>our ancient ancestors had evolved an immune system that has the ability to fight off the <br></br>majority of these diseases.<br></br><br></br>But, if the Human Race does not allow the immune system to do its job, we will slowly <br></br>lose it and become dependant upon medicine. That is not good.<br></br><br></br>To retain a good…</p>
<p>I have heard it said that the Human Race is living at the bottom of an ocean of germs,<br/>bacteria and virus's. The only thing that has allowed us to survive to today is because <br/>our ancient ancestors had evolved an immune system that has the ability to fight off the <br/>majority of these diseases.<br/><br/>But, if the Human Race does not allow the immune system to do its job, we will slowly <br/>lose it and become dependant upon medicine. That is not good.<br/><br/>To retain a good immune system, the Human Race must allow the immune system to work<br/>and strengthen itself. Look at a paraplegic, when he can no longer use his legs the muscles<br/>atrophy. SAME with the immune system. The ONLY time you should rely on medicine is<br/>when the immune system can not fight off a particular illness.<br/><br/>I've seen people catch a bad cold and immediately go to the doctor and get a shot and or<br/>pills. HUH???? a cold is a virus and only the immune system can fight it off. The shot and or<br/>pills are for a secondary disease that MIGHT flare up because your immune system is busy<br/>fighting off the cold virus (weakened really ). <br/><br/>Our ancient ancestors had no or very little of anything resembling medicine, yet the Human<br/>Race is still here. That shows the strength of the immune system.<br/><br/>When I was in grade school, in the mid 50's, I can't recall anyone having Asthma. When I got<br/>a scrape or cut, if possible, I'd let a dog lick it and MAYBE bandage it up. A dogs saliva <br/>does have an antibacterial in it. My parents smoked and most of my relatives did too. They <br/>would have card parties on some weekends and the house would fill up with so much smoke <br/>that they would have to stop the card game and air out the house. Then continue playing cards.<br/><br/>RELYING ONLY ON MEDICINE IS KILLING THE HUMAN RACE.<br/><br/>Well....Enough of my pissing and moaning.<br/><br/>Peace</p>Pity the Priesthood?tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-02-28:2182797:BlogPost:18726442012-02-28T19:10:26.000ZJas Brimstonehttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/PirateBard
<p>Before you sharpen your pitchforks and light the torches, let me qualify that title with: Not all of them!</p>
<p>Those who are child molesters, or knowingly aid such vile excuses for humans deserve all of the scorn and contempt they get from any thinking human.</p>
<p></p>
<p>That said, I was thinking the other day of how religion is basically a mind virus that has permeated and infected much of humanity for millenia. Then the thought struck me that if that is the case, should we not feel…</p>
<p>Before you sharpen your pitchforks and light the torches, let me qualify that title with: Not all of them!</p>
<p>Those who are child molesters, or knowingly aid such vile excuses for humans deserve all of the scorn and contempt they get from any thinking human.</p>
<p></p>
<p>That said, I was thinking the other day of how religion is basically a mind virus that has permeated and infected much of humanity for millenia. Then the thought struck me that if that is the case, should we not feel pity and compassion for those whom it has infected? And further, should we not feel that same pity and compassion for those whom it has infected the worst... the carriers... the priests, rabbis, imams, etc.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I'm not saying there aren't the contemptible among them who are in fact con artists and vile creatures who willfully take advantage of the gullible masses...</p>
<p>but is it not possible that many of them have simply bought into the religion so much, become so infected with the mind virus, that they truly believe what they preach?</p>
<p>Please don't misunderstand, I'm not saying that makes preaching hatred, bigotry, willful ignorance, etc. somehow forgivable or in any way 'right'. What I'm saying is that I don't think it's right to treat every religious leader as a con-man or charlatan. Isn't part of being a con-man knowing that you're running a con? Shouldn't their ignorance be pitied and treated with the same compassion as you would treat the victim of any con? </p>
<p>I mean, if my grandmother were to fall for, say... one of those Nigerian "I'm a rich political prisoner who wants to give you a share of 10 Million dollars if you help me get it out of my oppressive country" scams. I wouldn't hate her for it. I wouldn't lash out at her idiocy and act like she must have somehow known it was a lie and willfully put on the blinders anyway only to lose all of her savings. I would pity her, and try to educate her on why it was a scam, how to spot similar scams, etc.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Now, what of the scammer? What if the scammer themselves were actually convinced, by someone in authority, society, or even family tradition, that they actually were a political prisoner with money who just needed someone's help to get their money away from the oppressive country? Would that make what they did right? Of course not. Would it at least explain their behavior and make them deserving of some compassion and/or pity? I think perhaps so.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I realize that's a bit of a stretch, but I do feel like that's how it might be for some religious "leaders". They've been convinced of the "truth" of their religion. They've "drunk the kool-aid" so much that they actually believe they're helping people when they spread their mind virus.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I guess I just feel that I cannot hate or deride someone whom I view as a victim of faith. As much as I hate an organization (such as the Catholic Church) for it's history of oppression, bigotry, and more recently come to light, child molestation and harboring known offenders... I cannot hate those victims of the mind virus who did not participate in such activities, nor who continue to support such an institution that did have such a high occurrence of such activities. While I despise the organization, I am compassionate and take pity on those who are so infected by the mind virus, are such victims of faith, that even now they cannot tear themselves away from their dependency on religion to give their lives meaning and hope.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Not sure if there was a point to that post other than to vent and maybe spread a little compassion for those still infected with religion in a world where it is all too easy to get so caught up in the fight against religion and the religious hucksters and scam artists, that the victims get swept into the net of anger along with those charlatans who truly deserve scorn and ridicule.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Peace.</p>Curing The God Virustag:www.atheistnexus.org,2010-09-01:2182797:BlogPost:9642402010-09-01T23:32:03.000ZJay Walkerhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/JayWalker
<span style="font-style: italic;">Note- -This is a republishing of my blog entry of the same name at <a href="http://freethinkingfordummies.com/2010/09/01/curing-the-god-virus/">http://freethinkingfordummies.com/2010/09/01/curing-the-god-virus/</a></span><br style="font-style: italic;"></br><br></br><div class="snap_preview"><p>I am currently reading The God Virus, by Darrel Ray. I already owned his book when I heard him speak at the Midwest Humanist Conference last month, but I hadn’t really…</p>
</div>
<span style="font-style: italic;">Note- -This is a republishing of my blog entry of the same name at <a href="http://freethinkingfordummies.com/2010/09/01/curing-the-god-virus/">http://freethinkingfordummies.com/2010/09/01/curing-the-god-virus/</a></span><br style="font-style: italic;"/><br/><div class="snap_preview"><p>I am currently reading The God Virus, by Darrel Ray. I already owned his book when I heard him speak at the
Midwest Humanist Conference last month, but I hadn’t really started<br />
reading it in earnest until last week.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>In his talk and his book, he likens religion to a virus. He compares the way that a virus or parasite can take over its host’s brain
functions causing the host to do things that are actually against it’s<br />
own well being. <br/></p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>He gives the example of a parasite which infects a specific species of ant. Once infected, this ant will be compelled to climb to the
highest stalk of grass that it can find where it is likely to be eaten<br />
by a cow. This, of course, is suicidal as far as the ant is concerned,<br />
but is just want the parasite wants because it is only in the digestive<br />
system of the cow that the parasite reproduces. It’s offspring is then<br />
excreted from the cow in moist excrement which the species of ants seek<br />
out as a form of moisture needed to survive.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>Another example given is that of certain species of rat who, when infected with a particular pathogen, completely lose their ability to
detect cat pheromones, making them that much more vulnerable to being<br />
caught and eaten. This pathogen needs to get into a cat in order to<br />
reproduce and thus infects the rat in such a way that it loses it’s<br />
innate ability to detect when a cat may be nearby.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>And thus, Mr. Ray continues, does the God virus, the pathogen of religion, infect and alter the behavior of humans in such a way as to
maximize it’s own survival, even at the expense of it’s host’s well<br />
being. <br/></p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>A perfect example of this are Islamic terrorists who’s minds are infected with a religion which fills their heads with images of paradise
and keeps them from thinking rationally about the consequences of their<br />
intended actions. Because of the infection of religion, they have<br />
become unable to think rationally about anything that may contradict<br />
their religious teachings. This leads them to easily persuade<br />
themselves that killing innocent people is both right and required by<br />
their religion.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>All religions show these same infectious qualities that interfere with people’s ability to rationally consider other views or even the
consequences of their own religiously motivated words and actions:<br />
Buddhist monks who set themselves on fire to protest ideas against their<br />
beliefs; right wing religious fundamentalists who kill abortion<br />
doctors; Sikhs who kill Hindus who violate their sacred temples;<br />
Christians who beat and murder someone just because they are homosexual.<br />
All of these heinous acts are caused by an infection with the God<br />
Virus which turns off the part of people’s brains that allow them to<br />
think rationally about anything that contradicts their beliefs.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>Although I know it is anecdotal, I wish to relate my own personal experience of having been infected with the God Virus.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>To give you a quick background that leads up to the events of my infection, let me summarize my religious background unto that point.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>I was raised Catholic, received First Communion and Confirmation. I considered myself a devout believer in God, but always questioned many
of the teachings of the church and the bible. After moving onto college<br />
and the Army, I became what I called a generic Christian, eschewing the<br />
teachings of the Catholic church because I could no longer, in good<br />
conscience, support most of them.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>As time went on, my readings of and about the bible taught me that there were far too many contradictions and human tampering with the
source documents of the bible to be able to believe in much of any of<br />
it, except as allegory.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>By the time I married my first wife, I was a believer in God, but believed that any sources for the “true” Christianity had long been
lost, adulterated, or destroyed. Still, I converted to her religion of<br />
Armenian Orthodox, which was, at is basics, little different from<br />
Catholicism.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>In about 2002, I had what I thought was a revelation from God to become a Muslim. I became completely consumed by Islam and read and
thought about nothing else for months until I finally under went the<br />
Shahada, or conversion to Islam.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>I was sure I was saved. I was sure that the Qu’ran was a divinely revealed (not inspired, but revealed) book.</p>
<p>The Qu’ran taught me that Christianity and Judaism had been corrupted, as had the original teachings of the prophets, which were the
same for Islam as for the other two religions. This completely<br />
reinforced what I’d already come to believe from my own studies.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>But I began to change. I started to allow myself to look down on others, to view everyone else as misguided. I even allowed myself to
hate others, those enemies of Islam.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>Hate was something I had never allowed myself to feel before, believing we were all human and therefore, equal. While I could justify
hate for certain individuals, because of their words and actions, the<br />
idea of hating a whole group of people was, up till this point, an<br />
anathema to me.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>My first marriage fell apart, due to many reasons, but as my mental energies were focused on divorce and all that goes with it, religion
took a back seat to the turmoil I was going through.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>There came a time when I had some breathing room to look at my religious believes again, and I was horrified by what I’d allow myself
to become. Someone who hated; who ignored the evidence that was<br />
contrary to my worldview.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>I had another revelation at this point, not a religious one, but an emotional and intellectual one. I realized that I needed to apply the
same standards to studying Islam as I did Christianity earlier. Once I<br />
did this, the entire house of cards fell down and the infection of Islam<br />
was gone from my mind.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>Still, the infection of the God Virus was not completely gone as I struggled to figure out what my spiritual beliefs were in the aftermath
of my rejection of all religions. Did I still believe in God? Yes, I<br />
told my self. But what kind of God was he?</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>For a short while, I decided that maybe he was a deistic God, one who created the universe and then moved on, never to interact with it. So
was I a deist? Maybe God was just completely beyond our knowing so maybe<br />
I was an agnostic?</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>But, as my long suppressed love of science and thinking returned, I realized that being agnostic is merely, for me, a way of avoiding the
really hard thinking and the requirement to actually answer the question<br />
for myself.</p>
<p>I could then see the choice between deism and no belief at all present itself. As I suggested in my <a href="http://freethinkingfordummies.com/2010/08/31/the-real-science-of-intelligent-design-its-not-what-you-think/">post</a> yesterday, if there was a deistic creator, that fact makes no
difference at all for our existence and the fate of our universe,<br />
leaving me with non-belief, or atheism.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>So, I feel that I’ve finally rid myself of the God virus. It’s taken 50 years and more ups, downs, back and forths and wild roller coaster
rides than I can even count.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>Inoculating yourself against the God Virus is hard and fraught with pitfalls, but well worth the freedom that it brings. I suggest that
everyone give it a try.</p>
</div>The relationship between religions and viruses (natural and computers)tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2009-08-27:2182797:BlogPost:4797082009-08-27T16:30:00.000ZObscureAtheisthttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/ObscureAtheist
It was about 10 years ago I heard about computer viruses and their similarities to human viruses or natural viruses . That comparison was very interesting for me and even this comparison ignited an idea in my mind: if we call natural viruses live or semi live beings then we can call computer viruses alive or semi alive too.<br />
Here Ramadan has begun a few days ago and my parents like many other Muslims fast in this month and they practice rituals more than other months. Once I was looking at my…
It was about 10 years ago I heard about computer viruses and their similarities to human viruses or natural viruses . That comparison was very interesting for me and even this comparison ignited an idea in my mind: if we call natural viruses live or semi live beings then we can call computer viruses alive or semi alive too.<br />
Here Ramadan has begun a few days ago and my parents like many other Muslims fast in this month and they practice rituals more than other months. Once I was looking at my mother praying and practicing rituals I saw her as a sick or metal sick who has been infected by a virus which its name is Islam. Then I thought more about it and found out yes all religion have many similarities with viruses both natural and computer viruses.<br />
Now here I want to count these similarities in their mechanism and essence .<br />
<br />
1 The first and the most important similarity between all viruses that distinguishes them from inanimate things is reproduction .Natural viruses reproduce via injecting themselves(their DNA or RNA [their genetic code]) in alive cells then with the help of those cells reproduce , Computer viruses reproduce themselves via injecting their code in other computer programs and when infected programs run and execute they reproduce viruses by running virus code! Religions reproduce themselves by infecting people's minds. When a religion infects a person mind that person becomes a potential vehicle for that religion mostly by infecting kids from parents .<br />
<br />
2 Similarity in essence : All kinds of viruses in fact are some codes in a proper language. Natural viruses are pieces of genetic code which amino acids make their language. the language of alive things . Computer viruses are pieces of computer code (an ordered set of a CPU instruction set)their language is computer language 0 and 1 or binary language . Religions are collections of beliefs and laws and rules which are expressed in in human language. I think there is no need to say that all these viruses use the language owner to reproduce and become active .<br />
<br />
3 All viruses use their host resources in other word all kinds of them are parasite .Natural viruses use alive cells resources .Computer viruses use CPU time and memory which is allocated to programs (this is why your computer become slow) religions use mind resources and energy to be active and reproductive<br />
<br />
4 All kind of viruses use their host connections to spread themselves because they host the language of the host communication .natural viruses use their host communications like sexual relationship, touching ,breathing in the same air ,blood transfer and .. . Computers viruses use computer networks like internet ,cool disks,old floppy disks and … . religions use humans mind communicating tools like speech ,raising children , books , internet , …<br />
<br />
5 in all sorts having the code of virus doesn't meaning being sick or infected . For example a natural virus can be passive in the body of an alive thing without any activity or some antibody prevent it from activity .a computer virus can be in computer disk without any activity because the user never execute the infected program or it has been quarantined by an anti virus program . For religion I myself is very good example I have the codes of Islam in my mind [I had been infected from my parents in childhood]<br />
but this code is not active now because I disabled it many years ago ! Even by using and analyzing its code I can to detect many other mind viruses.<br />
<br />
6 All kind of viruses have versioning and branching because all of them evolve! .Unfortunately my biology information is not good enough to talk about the evolution of natural viruses but I know it exists. But in computer field I know that many programmers use the older viruses code to make new ones. Or many viruses have many versions . Mind viruses or religions have this aspect too. Christianity is updated and evolved version of Judaism and itself has many versions and branches .but Islam has a new code however in the process of making it large pieces of code from Christianity and Judaism have been used. Islam itself has some versions and branches too.<br />
<br />
7 There is a common way to fight with all these kind of viruses : Awareness if the alive body immune system can detect and be aware of a virus in most case can defeat it by making antibodies or … in computers to get rid of a virus the first step is detecting it by an antivirus software. What about mind viruses? The infected person's mind must detect the religion codes as a virus that enslave that mind and it s a little difficult job because most mind viruses have some mechanisms to prevent being detected as a virus.<br />
<br />
However these were most important similarities perhaps you can find many other too especially when you study some instances of each sorts independently for example in each kind of them you can find some instance which are more dangerous or less or … . however this article was about the similarities between all kinds of viruses I d like to mention the most important functional difference that I have seen between mind viruses and other kinds :the victim of this a mind virus can be infected just by one virus at a same time but other kinds victims are not so.<br />
<br />
<br />
Now I'd like to make some conclusions here<br />
Religious people are some sort of sick people. Some of them must really be cured.<br />
Some people says religions are natural thing for human. I must say yes they are right religions are natural viruses but not their targets is not our cells its our mind.<br />
Because of the fact that awareness is an effective way to get rid of this viruses perhaps you can use this text to make the infected mind aware! ;) but I never suggest to call Islam a virus in front of a Muslim I don't take its responsibility at all ;)<br />
<br />
* after posting the above text i searched about the idea in google and i found out i am too late! Richard Dawkins has written an essay before me!: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viruses_of_the_Mind" target="_blank">Viruses of mind</a> so i added this line.Deborah Cooper podcasttag:www.atheistnexus.org,2009-08-22:2182797:BlogPost:4729672009-08-22T18:25:37.000ZDarrel Rayhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/DarrelRay
I did an internet radio/podcast with Deborah Cooper of Sucka Free Dating this week. It was unusual and fun to say the least. You can listen at this link: <a href="http://www.podfeed.net/podcast/Sucka+Free+Dating+-+The+Smart+Relationships+Talk+Show/14132" target="_blank"></a><br />
<br />
The angle was very different than other podcasts I have done since it was more focused on how religion affects relationships and sexuality.
I did an internet radio/podcast with Deborah Cooper of Sucka Free Dating this week. It was unusual and fun to say the least. You can listen at this link: <a href="http://www.podfeed.net/podcast/Sucka+Free+Dating+-+The+Smart+Relationships+Talk+Show/14132" target="_blank"></a><br />
<br />
The angle was very different than other podcasts I have done since it was more focused on how religion affects relationships and sexuality.Lincoln Nebraskatag:www.atheistnexus.org,2009-07-15:2182797:BlogPost:4178982009-07-15T16:19:16.000ZDarrel Rayhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/DarrelRay
Jason Frye is putting on a regional Freethinker conference in Lincoln, NE Aug. 14-15. I will be speaking on my book and some of our Recovering From Religion (RR) facilitators will be presenting on RR. This is an exciting opportunity to challenge folks in the Nebraska-Iowa area to come out and let the fundamentalists know that we are here to stay. I hope you will help us get the word out. I'll post more information as soon as I have it.
Jason Frye is putting on a regional Freethinker conference in Lincoln, NE Aug. 14-15. I will be speaking on my book and some of our Recovering From Religion (RR) facilitators will be presenting on RR. This is an exciting opportunity to challenge folks in the Nebraska-Iowa area to come out and let the fundamentalists know that we are here to stay. I hope you will help us get the word out. I'll post more information as soon as I have it.Secular Nation Podcasttag:www.atheistnexus.org,2009-06-08:2182797:BlogPost:3621112009-06-08T03:04:12.000ZDarrel Rayhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/DarrelRay
I was just interviewed by David Driscoll of Secular Nation Podcast. The interview went great and he gave me a lot of time to talk about Recovering from Religion as well. Take a listen at <a href="http://www.atheistalliance.org/podcast/">this link</a>.<br />
<br />
David really did his homework and had excellent questions for our discussion.<br />
<br />
Please let others know about the podcast as well.
I was just interviewed by David Driscoll of Secular Nation Podcast. The interview went great and he gave me a lot of time to talk about Recovering from Religion as well. Take a listen at <a href="http://www.atheistalliance.org/podcast/">this link</a>.<br />
<br />
David really did his homework and had excellent questions for our discussion.<br />
<br />
Please let others know about the podcast as well.Recovering from Religion, Contest Announcementtag:www.atheistnexus.org,2009-05-05:2182797:BlogPost:3125472009-05-05T22:16:44.000ZDarrel Rayhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/DarrelRay
Recovering from Religion Logo Contest (Deadline for submission May 31, 2001)<br />
We think RR should have a snappy logo and we know there are people who can help us create one. If you or someone you know, would like to participate, send them this announcement. If you want to know more about Recovering from Religion go to this link and let others know about this exciting new group:<br />
<br />
http://recoveringreligionists.com/Purpose.html<br />
<br />
Contest Announcement<br />
We are taking entries for a new logo for RR.…
Recovering from Religion Logo Contest (Deadline for submission May 31, 2001)<br />
We think RR should have a snappy logo and we know there are people who can help us create one. If you or someone you know, would like to participate, send them this announcement. If you want to know more about Recovering from Religion go to this link and let others know about this exciting new group:<br />
<br />
http://recoveringreligionists.com/Purpose.html<br />
<br />
Contest Announcement<br />
We are taking entries for a new logo for RR. Submissions must be in jpg or gif format. The deadline for submissions will be May 31. At that time we will submit all acceptable submissions to all of the registered RR facilitators who will then vote on the one they like best. The winner will be determined by a majority vote. Darrel Ray will reserve the right to refuse any submission or winner, should there be any legal or proprietary concerns on the design or ownership and will have final say on the winner. The winner agrees that the new logo will become the property of Recovering from Religion™ and RR™ will properly acknowledge the designer in the initial announcement and on the RR webpage. The winner will receive a free copy of Dr. Ray's book, The God Virus: How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture.<br />
Entries should be send by email attachment to recfromreligion@recoveringreligionists.com<br />
<br />
Only registered facilitators will be eligible to vote on the new logo. If your name does not appear on our website in the RR Groups, then you are not yet a registered facilitator. Please contact Darrel to get you and your group registered as soon as possible. See this link: http://recoveringreligionists.com/RR_Groups.html<br />
<br />
Thanks for your interest and support of RR.<br />
<br />
Darrel Ray and Jameson Street, Atlanta Facilitatorsafe computing tipstag:www.atheistnexus.org,2009-04-05:2182797:BlogPost:2722692009-04-05T22:46:30.000ZGalen Thurberhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/GalenThurber
Outstanding free privacy products:<br />
<br />
LinuxMint<br />
<a href="http://www.linuxmint.com/">http://www.linuxmint.com/</a><br />
full featured fast &amp; secure operating system<br />
<br />
Passwordsafe<br />
<a href="http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/">http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/</a><br />
keep your passwords in a safe, keep that safe on a flash drive. Also works under linux via wine.<br />
Mypasswordsafe for linux<br />
<a href="http://www.semanticgap.com/myps/">http://www.semanticgap.com/myps/</a><br />
<br />
Free open-source disk encryption…
Outstanding free privacy products:<br />
<br />
LinuxMint<br />
<a href="http://www.linuxmint.com/">http://www.linuxmint.com/</a><br />
full featured fast &amp; secure operating system<br />
<br />
Passwordsafe<br />
<a href="http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/">http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/</a><br />
keep your passwords in a safe, keep that safe on a flash drive. Also works under linux via wine.<br />
Mypasswordsafe for linux<br />
<a href="http://www.semanticgap.com/myps/">http://www.semanticgap.com/myps/</a><br />
<br />
Free open-source disk encryption software for Windows Vista/XP, Mac OS X, and Linux<br />
<a href="http://www.truecrypt.org/">http://www.truecrypt.org/</a><br />
use it on your Flash drives as well!Brain as computer- some ramblingstag:www.atheistnexus.org,2009-04-05:2182797:BlogPost:2722242009-04-05T21:10:48.000ZDarrel Rayhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/DarrelRay
In the debate over the virus metaphor, many people miss the clear parallels between the human brain and a computer. While many have no problem with the notion that computers can be infected with a metaphorical "virus", it seems that the line is drawn when the human brain is involved. There is abundant evidence that biological viruses can infect and take control of organic brains - controlling them much as a computer virus does. What makes us so resistant to the notion that ideas can do the same…
In the debate over the virus metaphor, many people miss the clear parallels between the human brain and a computer. While many have no problem with the notion that computers can be infected with a metaphorical "virus", it seems that the line is drawn when the human brain is involved. There is abundant evidence that biological viruses can infect and take control of organic brains - controlling them much as a computer virus does. What makes us so resistant to the notion that ideas can do the same thing?<br />
<br />
One big objection is that any idea can be a virus (meme) so how does one discriminate between functional and malfunctional mental viruses? How does one discriminate between functional computer software and malware? The nature of malware is to look and act as something functional and useful while going about its nefarious work. If you knew it was malware, you would not let it into your computer.<br />
<br />
It seems to me that the same criteria can be used in determining a major piece of human software. Whether it pertains to religion or some other program, the question needs to be answered, does it function to propagate itself, or is it a tool to help the human achieve rational ends. Does it function like a word processor or spreadsheet or does it function as a self replicating parasite, without little regard for its host?<br />
<br />
Back to my original question about resistance to the notion of idea control. Mind control is easily demonstrated in a child. It is a simple process to infect a child with ideas that take control of behavior. Growing up, I once watched a grandmother do it quite easily. She simply repeated to her grandchild many times, that the Devil was lurking under the bed, behind the curtains, and people of certain ethnicities. The result was a frequent glance under the bed and behind the curtains for years and an avoidance of certain types of people. Simple superstitious programs are easily placed in the brains of children which then last for years or a lifetime. What is so difficult in seeing a larger more complex program called a religion from infecting a brain and lasting a lifetime, influencing all kinds of behavior.<br />
<br />
An infected person would have no idea they were infected any more than an infected computer "knows" it has a computer virus. Unless a computer has a functional virus detection program, the computer cannot detect and rid itself of the virus. A human must have virus detection programs as well. Unfortunately, one of the key strategies of any computer virus or any mental virus is to ensure that it is difficult to detect and that it appears to serve a useful function. Every successful religion does all it can to appear to function in the best interest of the human it infects. In most cases, it is functioning to get that person into heaven or eternal life. If there is an eternal life or heaven, then of course, the program may be functional. If there is no eternal life, then what is the purpose of the "religion program?" Does the program tend to make the person behave in certain ways - like the child looking behind the curtain? The adult equivalent would be to eschew groups with different religious infections, avoid disconfirming evidence of eternal life e.g. evolution, evidence of harmful effects on sexuality, intelligence, etc. A penchant for seeing miracles (invisible god interventions) in the natural world. Denial of scientific explanations for religious phenomenon. Spending time in prayer to the invisible god, when action or planning would be more functional. Talking to invisible beings like angels, gods, devils, etc. Fearing invisible creatures like gods, devils, etc.<br />
<br />
In the frame of mental illness, most people would agree that praying to a unicorn, seeing miracles performed by grasshoppers, seeing the hand of Zeus behind daily life events, is probably a sign that the person is infected with some dysfunctional ideas. Ideas that detract from productive living. How is that different from one infected with a Catholic, Mormon or Moslem religious virus?<br />
<br />
These are just ramblings and need to be worked more completely, but thought I would put them out for comment or response.Dawkins on Mental Virusestag:www.atheistnexus.org,2009-03-31:2182797:BlogPost:2682982009-03-31T20:41:31.000ZDarrel Rayhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/DarrelRay
I love Dawkins video on mental viruses and have added it to my videos. If you have never seen it, take a look. It is still the best articulation of the concept that I have found.
I love Dawkins video on mental viruses and have added it to my videos. If you have never seen it, take a look. It is still the best articulation of the concept that I have found.A little experimenttag:www.atheistnexus.org,2009-03-19:2182797:BlogPost:2585972009-03-19T19:10:38.000ZDarrel Rayhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/DarrelRay
I just put up a video clip from my recent presentation at The University of Colorado. It outlines a little experiment you can do with your fundamentalist or evangelical friends. Here is the link:<br />
<br />
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leBmSTet-NA<br />
<br />
It is a great way to observe the effects of religious infection first hand.
I just put up a video clip from my recent presentation at The University of Colorado. It outlines a little experiment you can do with your fundamentalist or evangelical friends. Here is the link:<br />
<br />
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leBmSTet-NA<br />
<br />
It is a great way to observe the effects of religious infection first hand.